TOP BRANDS

How to Avoid Pressure Sores When Confined to a Wheelchair

When you have limited mobility, pressure sores become a fact of life. Unfortunately, they are just another one of the constant annoyances that you have to deal with on a daily basis.

Pressure sores are also known by several other names, including bedsores, bed ulcers, and pressure ulcers. This type of sore is known to develop specifically on the hips, ankles, heels, elbows, back, and coccyx (tailbone). They most commonly occur on bedridden individuals or people who have limited mobility and rely on a wheelchair to get around their homes, places of employment, or neighborhood.

However, if you plan ahead and make certain changes to your lifestyle, it is possible to limit the number or severity of the pressure sores you develop. Most of these changes are minor in nature and easy enough to incorporate into your daily routines. The biggest hurdle in doing so is going to be getting into the habit of using the following tips.

Since sores of this type often develop on areas of the skin that continually maintain contact with an immobile surface, it is important to switch positions as frequently as possible to avoid developing them. The idea is to prevent any one point on the body from maintaining contact for long periods of time. More specifically, it is important to move parts of the body where the skin covers bones.

Purchasing a pressure-reducing mattress is perhaps the most efficacious solution to use. This type of mattress is designed to help alleviate the likelihood of developing bedsores.

Keeping an eye on the condition of the skin is a great way to help prevent bedsores. If you notice that your skin is beginning to look redder than usual in a specific area of the skin, it is time to avoid allowing that part of the body to rest on any surface at all.

Practicing proper hygiene can assist in limiting the number of bedsores that an individual develops. Since the idea is to avoid harming the skin, you should use soap products that are gentle on the skin. Make sure that the skin is thoroughly dried after every washing and apply moisturizing products liberally to assist in keeping the skin supple and protected from unwanted abrasions.

Eating a healthy diet filled with vitamins and minerals can help keep your skin free from pressure sores. Staying hydrated is just as important since it promotes soft skin that is flexible enough to resist the beginning signs of abrasions and cuts that might develop into bedsores.

If you or a loved one has limited mobility, developing bedsores is a real possibility that you should avoid. Not only are bedsores painful but they can become infected. If this happens, the infection can cause high fevers and spread to the bloodstream. The best way to avoid bedsores when someone has limited mobility is to pay close attention to the skin’s condition at all times, while also remembering to follow the above tips.